Liverpool fans have one thing on their mind this weekend: a centre back signing. The Reds have been devastated by injuries and bolstering the defence before the Monday deadline is imperative. There have been a number of players mooted as targets. Liverpool have been linked with Issa Diop, the West Ham team sheet could drop a hint about his future.
Liverpool need a centre back
We cannot put it plainer than that.
Liverpool are in dire need of a centre back.
At the moment the Reds have no fit senior centre halves.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are unlikely to play again this season.
Joel Matip has been ruled out this week, as has the makeshift option Fabinho.
The Reds are expected to line up with Jordan Henderson at the back today.
The club have until 10pm on Monday to bring a centre defender in.
Liverpool linked with Issa Diop
The Reds have been rumoured to be interested in near enough every centre back on the planet.
The club are desperate for bolstered numbers at the back but it would take the right man at the right price.
Foot Mercato are one of a number of outlets reporting Liverpool interest in Issa Diop.
The 24-year-old French centre back has also been linked with the Reds by The Athletic – they’ve claimed Liverpool want Diop on loan but the Hammers would want to include a £20m obligation.
West Ham team sheet
Liverpool face West Ham today.
Kopites could get a hint at how likely a transfer is when the team sheets are announced at 3:30PM.
Issa Diop hasn’t been a regular starter this season but he’s been named on the bench week in, week out.
Should the Frenchman not be named in the squad then it could be game on.
The Hammers wouldn’t want to jeopardise a deal by risking him in an intense game.
Indeed, it’s common practice for a player to be left out of a squad pending a transfer – we saw this with Diogo Jota over the summer.
Come 3:30PM we could have a better idea of what’s going on.